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 | | | | | | Quick Facts | | | Birthdate: 18 February 1971 | | Birthplace: Silkeborg, Denmark | | | Age: 31 Ht: 6ft 2½in (190cm) Wt: 13st 12lb (88kg) | | | Home: London, UK | | | Country: Denmark | | | Turned Professional: 1993 (scr) | | | |
| Previous Ryder Cup Appearances | | | (1) 1997
| | European Tour Victories | | |
(7) 1996 Loch Lomond World Invitational; 1998 Heineken Classic, Peugeot Open de España; 1999 Sarazen World Open; 2000 BMW International Open; 2001 Dubai Desert Classic; 2002 BMW International Open
| | Player Notes | |
Thomas Björn's extraordinary 1995 season on the European Challenge Tour stamped him as a special talent. With four victories, the 30 year old from Silkeborg in Denmark won the Challenge Tour Rankings with ease, and Björn then set about putting his country on the map with the same style and panache which his footballing compatriots displayed in the 1992 European Soccer Championships.
A headline writer's dream - "The Great Dane" sobriquet follows him around like a puppy dog - Björn took less than one year to fulfill that early potential, winning the inaugural Loch Lomond World Invitational. Some may have wondered about this interloper among the great and the good of European golf, but Björn was quick to prove that victory was no fluke.
He qualified for the 1997 Ryder Cup side at Valderrama, the first Dane to play in the biennial contest against the United States. If he was ever fazed about taking part, it never registered in his stern features.
Captain Seve Ballesteros decided not to play Björn on the opening day as Europe established a 4 ½ - 3 ½ lead. However, the role of cheerleader doesn't sit easily on the shoulders of Björn or Ian Woosnam, who also missed out on the first day activity.
Thrown together in the fourballs on Saturday morning, that partnership flourished against Justin Leonard and Brad Faxon. The scratch pairing won 2 and 1 as Europe claimed that session by the impressive margin of 3 ½ - ½.
Leonard was to enter Björn's life again sooner than he expected. They were drawn together in the fourth single on Sunday as Europe went for the jugular. And what a contest it turned out to be.
The American opened with three straight birdies and Björn also forfeited the fourth hole. Four down after four, it seemed all over before the back nine. Suddenly, riding over the hill in his buggy like the cavalry in pursuit of an Indian tribe, came Seve. A few choice words and he disappeared in his 'chariot'.
Björn took inspiration from his captain and clawed his way back into the match, slowly chipping away at Leonard's lead until holing a brute of an eight foot putt on the 17th to go ahead for the first time.
The recovery appeared complete, but there was a sting in the tail as the Texan won the final hole for a halved match. In the circumstances, that half point proved critical to the overall context of the match.
A persistent neck injury probably deprived Björn of a return to Ryder Cup action at The Country Club, but he returned to form in 2000, capturing the BMW International Open and openly declaring his wish to play at The De Vere Belfry this time around.
His place was rubber-stamped in February when he played all four rounds in the company of Tiger Woods and beat him in the Dubai Desert Classic. It was a magnificent effort, which even Björn conceded bettered anything he had achieved in the game to date.
Let no-one be in any doubt - The Great Dane will be fit and raring to go when battle commences at The De Vere Belfry.
Background
Used the Challenge Tour as his platform to launch a successful career on The European Tour. Won four titles on his way to winning the Challenge Tour in 1995 with what was then a record total of €65,059 (£46,471). Blessed with a solid, powerful game, he emerged as a genuine top-class player by capturing the Loch Lomond World Invitational in 1996 over one of the most demanding courses on The European Tour International Schedule. That victory proved to be the springboard for Björn to become the first Danish golfer to play in the Ryder Cup. Became a major force in 2000, finishing tied second behind Tiger Woods in the Open Championship and outright third behind the same player in the US PGA Championship. Started playing at age six because parents played the game. Brother Søren is also talented, playing off one. Rubber-stamped his potential with two wins in 1998 but struggled with a neck injury in the first half of 1999. Returned to form with a victory in The Sarazen World Open at PGA Golf de Catalunya in October 1999, and then captured the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Miyazaki, Japan, with a fourth extra hole birdie beating Sergio Garcia in a play-off. Began working with highly respected coach, Pete Cowen, midway through 2000 season and was rewarded with a victory in the BMW International Open. Produced arguably the best performance of his career in the 2001 Dubai Desert Classic, playing all four rounds in the company of Tiger Woods and emerging on top by two shots.
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| W - L - T | Points | | 2 - 2 - 0 | 2 |
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Thomas Björn
